How To: Persuade People Effectively

The gentle art of persuasion has been with us for as long as man has wanted things that another was unwilling to provide. While simple, brutish coercion requires nothing more than a strong arm, a blunt object, or a sharp stick, persuasion takes skill, tact and cunning, and requires a great deal of interpersonal smarts.

prerequisites

Persuading a person requires many different well-honed character traits. You must be confident (not cocky), eloquent (not stumbling over your own words), and charming (not slick). If you're in possession of these prerequisite talents, you'll stand a much better chance of getting what you want. If not, you may come off looking like a desperate, bumbling fool.

There are many different flavors of persuasion, each of which is best suited to certain situations. Know your options of persuasion, then feel free to use whichever best fits the occasion.

But remember; persuasion is an art, not a science. It takes just as much practice as any sport, and can only be mastered after years of real world training.

Use straightforward logic

This is generally one of the easiest ways to persuade, and works particularly well with people who respond to a rational argument. It's also the option that tends to require the most effort on your part.

You'll need to do a bit of research, think through your arguments, and come up with logical rebuttals to any potential questions or concerns that may be raised. There needs to be a flow, a sense of direction, and an air of confidence to your words. Don't let emotion get the better of you. If you do a good job, your chances of success are quite high.

Charm them to death

A simple case of "If you've got it, flaunt it" in action. Are you a charming, debonair gentleman? Can one of your carefully flashed smiles fill the room with a radiant, affluent glow? Do women swoon when you speak?

If you're lucky enough to be naturally charming, you'll be well ahead of the persuasive pack. People want to be reassured. People want to have the mysteries of the world explained to them. If you're a confident, passionate talker, projecting an unmistakable air of leadership, people will want to follow you.

That said, if you have the personal charisma of a cactus, don't bother. Unless you've got the gift of charm, you'll do more harm to your cause than good.